What are the most common causes of wrongful termination?

Wrongful termination is a serious violation of California state law and can be grounds for legal action. It occurs when an employer terminates an employee for an unlawful reason, such as discrimination, refusal to perform an illegal act, whistleblowing, or an act of retaliation. In California, the most common cause of wrongful termination is discrimination. This can include termination based on a person’s race, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or age. An employer may also not fire an employee in retaliation for filing a complaint or reporting a violation of law. An employer may also not terminate an employee for refusing to perform an illegal act or for filing a worker’s compensation claim. Another cause of wrongful termination is breach of contract. If the employer has made a verbal or written agreement with the employee, such as a probationary period or an agreement to follow certain procedures, then the employer must follow through on these agreements. If an employer fails to do so, the employee may have a valid wrongful termination claim. Finally, wrongful termination also includes any firing that is not for good cause. California is an “at-will” state, which means that an employer can terminate an employee for any lawful reason or for no reason at all. However, employers must still follow any laws pertaining to termination, such as the California WARN Act, which requires employers to provide notification to employees in the event of a layoff or closure. Overall, the most common causes of wrongful termination in California include discrimination, retaliation, breach of contract, and any firing that is not for good cause. If an employee believes they have been wrongfully terminated, they should contact an experienced labor lawyer right away to discuss their legal rights and options.

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